Locking ring



1967 J. H. MERCJIER 3,315,939

LOCKING RING Original Filed Jan. 31, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN ToRquEs NsRci E R May 2, 1967 J. H. MERCIER 33116339 LOCKING RING OriginalFiled Jan. 31, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 MVE/YTOR 5221455 /I- MER 'Q 5 7%,amt M H770 E/VPVA May 2, 1967 Original Filed Jan. 31, 1963 J. H. MERCIERLOCKING RING 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 MVE/YTOR 012m we: H- POE/ 0, ER

United States Patent Ofiice 3,316,939 Fatented May 2, 1967 3,316,939LOCKING RING Jacques H. Mercier, New York, N.Y., assignor to MercierOlaer Patent Corporation, Wilmington, Del., 21 corporation of DelawareOriginal application Jan. 31, 1963, Ser. No. 255,388, HOW Patent No.3,143,705, dated Sept. 15, 1964. Divided and this application Sept. 1,1964, Ser. No. 393,564

15 Claims. (Cl. 138-30) This application is a division of copendingapplication Ser. No. 255,388, filed Jan. 31, 1963, and now Patent No.3,148,705.

This invention relates to a locking ring for retaining two rigid partstogether and more particularly to a locking ring for the closure plug ofa pressure vessel for storing fluid under pressure and particularly ofthe type having a deformable partition, such as a bladder, therein.

As conducive to an understanding of the invention, it is noted thatwhere a pressure container has an opening or port with a removableclosure plug therein, the use of a threaded plug is undesirable in thatthe threads may become worn and stripped with likelihood of blowing outof the plug when high pressures are attained in the container. Inaddition, if such plug can be removed before substantially all of thepressure is relieved in the container, when the mechanic disassemblingthe container has partially released the plug, it may suddenly blow outand cause severe injury.

To overcome such difi'iculties, a plug may be utilized having a reducedneck defining a shoulder and forming an enlarged inner end portion ofsmaller outside diameter than the port so that it may be insertedtherein. A locking member in the form of a ring encompassing the reducedneck portion of the plug, has an outer diameter greater than that ofsaid port and an inner periphery overlapped by the shoulder of theenlarged end portion of the plug and is seated in position with rigidportions of the locking member intervening between the inner rim .of theport and said shoulder. By means of any suitable retaining element, suchas a nut screwed on the externally threaded neck of the plug, the plugmay be releasably, yet securely aflixed to said container. As thelocking member is of greater diameter than the port, in order that itmay be inserted therethrough into the container, it is made deformableas by having portions thereof relatively displaceable.

Where, to permit such deformation, the locking memher is of resilientmetal having one or more splits through the circumference thereof, suchas a conventional split ring which may be of hardened spring steel, thepressure vessel bladder as it expands to expel liquid from thecontainer, will come in contact with the portion of the surface of suchring which extends laterally outward from the shoulder of the plug andespecially at high pressures, extrude through such split, therebypinching or cutting the bladder with resultant destruction of the latterand failure of the pressure vessel.

In order to permit such deformation and provide a surface against whichthe pressure vessel bladder may abut which has no splits ordiscontinuities, as shown in Patent No. 2,936,787, a locking member hasbeen provided which comprises a plurality of arcuate segments arrangedsubstantially in a ring, the adjacent ends of said segments being spacedfrom each other. The segments are desirably of hardened metal such assteel which will withstand the shearing action against the innerperiphery of the locking member caused by the pressure on the en largedend of the plug when the bladder is hearing thereon and the shearingaction caused by the pressure of the lockingmember against the rim ofthe port. The segwhich protrudes from the port,

hereinafter described, and more ments are connected together by aresilient ring which is gued, cemented or otherwise bonded to the top ofthe ocking member so as to be securely retained with respect thereto andso positioned that the top of the locking member will present anuninterrupted surface to the bladder, the resilient ring permittingrelative displacement of portions of the locking member so that it maybe deformed for insertion into the port, the locking member beingselfrestoring to its original shape.

By reason of the fact that the resilient ring is bonded as by gluing tothe top surface of the rigid arcuate segments, such bonding operationrequires that the contacting surfaces be previously prepared, which addsto the cost of manufacture. Furthermore, since the resilient ring isbonded to the rigid arcuate segments, little displacement is possible ofthe portions of the resilient ring adjacent the regions where thelocking member is folded and unfolded. This results in substantialfatigue of the material of the resilient ring at such regions withrepeated folding actions which causes breakdown. of the unit withresultant failure thereof.

It is accordingly among the objects of the invention to provide anannular locking member which may readily be fabricated at relatively lowcost and which may readily be deformed for insertion into an opening ofdiameter less than the unfolded diameter of the locking member, whichlocking member will provide an uninterrupted resilient surface and whichmay be folded and unfolded with relatively free movement between theresilient ring and the rigid segments of the locking member at theregion of folding and unfolding, thereby reducing fatigue at suchregions.

According to the invention,

these objects are accomplished by the arrangement and combination ofelements particularly recited in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown one or more of variouspossible embodiment-s of the several 40 features of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a pressure vessel embodyingthe invention herein, FIG. 2 is a diametric sectional view forming partof the lockingmember,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the rigid arcuate segments alone, takenalong line IIIIII of FIG. 4,

FIG. 4 is a View of the locking member taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary detail view of the resilient ring alone insection taken along line V-V of FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is a corresponding plan view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 is a partial view of the locking member similar to FIG. 4 beforefolding,

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7, but in which the two metal arcuatesegments are starting to be moved apart from each other,

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 7, but in which the two rigid arcuatesegments are completely moved apart,

FIG. 10 is a corresponding side view taken along line X-X of FIG. 9,

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating the introduction of the locking memberfolded on itself, into the port Ff the pressure vessel, and

FIGS. 12 and 13 are sectional views of two other embodiments of theinvention.

Referring now to the drawings, the locking member according to theinvention, is illustratively shown in FIGS. 1 to 11, incorporated in apressure vessel such as a pressure accumulator. This accumulatordesirably comprises a rigid container 12 of material such as steel whichis capable of withstanding high pressure. The container of the resilientring las opposed ports, the uppe port being designed to re- :eive astandard pneumatic valve 14 and the lower port lesignated by the numeral13 serving as the liquid port. Positioned in the container inconventional manner is a leformable partition, illustratively a bladder15, the lat :er desirably being of rubber, either natural or syntheticand capable of expanding in order to force liquid from the container anddefining a gas chamber 16 and a liquid chamber 17 on opposed sidesthereof.

The port 13 desirably has a cylindrical outlet plug 18 positionedtherein, the latter having a longitudinal 'bore therethrough and havinga flange at its inner end defining an annular shoulder 19 and reducedneck portion 19'. The outer diameter of the flange is slightly less thanthe diameter of the port 13 so that it may readily be insertedtherethrough and the neck 19' is of length such that it may protrudefrom port 13.

The plug 18 has a transverse wall with passageways therethrough and alsohas an axial bore through which extends the stem of a spring urgedpoppet valve 24, the periphery of the latter being designed to seat onthe bevelled inner surface 23 of the bore of the plug.

The outlet plug 18 is affixed to the container 12 by a locking member inthe form of a ring constructed so that it may readily be deformed forinsertion through port 13 into the container 12. As shown in FIGS. 2 and3, for example, the locking member 20 comprises a resilient ring 35 anda plurality of arcuate segments, illustratively two in number anddesignated by the numerals 26 and 26', preferably of hardened metal suchas steel. Each of the segments is slightly less than 180 degrees of areso that when juxtaposed to form a ring, the adjacent ends 41 thereof maybe spaced from each other as is clearly shown in FIG. -4, for example.The ring formed by said juxtaposed segments has an inner diameter shownat 34 in FIG. 1, but slightly larger than the outer diameter of neck 19'of plug 18 so that the inner wall 34 of said segments 26, 26' may snuglyencompass neck 19' with shoulder 19 of the plug 18 resting on the innerperiphery 33 of said segments. The outer diameter of the ring formed bysaid juxtaposed segments 26, 26 is greater than that of the port 13 sothat the oblique or bevelled portion 29 of the segments 26, 26 whichconform generally to the shape of the inner surface of the container 11adjacent port 13 may seat thereon.

The undersurface of each of the segments adjacent the inner peripherythereof each has a cylindrical lower section defining an arcuate hub 28of width substantially equal to the difference between the outerdiameter of neck 19 and the diameter of port 13 so that said hub, whenpositioned between neck 19 and port 13, will center the plug 18 in saidport 13.

More particularly, referring to FIG. 3, each of the segments 26, 26'comprises a fiat lower face 27, an outer side face having thecylindrical lower section 28 which defines the hub, an intermediatesection which defines the oblique -or bevelled portion 29 and acylindrical upper section 30 of larger diameter than section 28. Inaddition, each of the segments has an upper rim in the form of aninverted L with an upright portion 31 and a horizontal portion 32directed outwardly, said rims 31, 32 being at the outer periphery ofeach of the segments, the top wall of each segment defining the annularshoulder 33 from the inner periphery of which the inner wall 34 of eachsegment depends.

The segments 26, 26' are designed to be mounted in the resilient ring 35so that they may be securely but releasably retained therein.

To this end, the lower surface of the ring 35 has a circular recess 35'therein of depth but slightly less than the height of the cylindricalportion 30 of the segments. In addition, an inverted substantiallyL-shaped annular groove is provided in said elastic ring 35complementary to the rim portions 31, 32 of the segments. Thus, thegroove has a portion 37 designed to accommodate the rim portion 32 and aportion 36 designed to accommodate the rim portion 31.

When the arcuate segments 26, 26 are mounted in the resilient ring 35,the resulting locking member will have the shape shown in FIG. 1, theresilient ring 35 having an oblique or bevelled outer periphery 38 whichis designed to form an extension of the bevelled surface 29 of thesegments.

It is to be noted that in the embodiment shown, the resilient ring 35has two diametric fins 41, clearly shown in FIGS. 4 to 8, for example,which are formed integral with the resilient ring and extend inwardlytherefrom, said fins being designed to be positioned in the spacebetween the adjacent ends 41' of the segments as is clearly shown inFIG. 4.

If desired, the depending protion 40 of the resilient ring, which isinterposed between the rim portion 31 and the adjacent inner end of theplug 18 could be eliminated and the rim portion 31 made of slightlygreater thickness so that it would be positioned closely adjacent theflange portion of the plug 18.

It is to be noted, referring particularly to FIG. 1, that the width ofthe top surface 39 of the elastic ring is such that when the lockingmember is positioned in the container 12, such surface 39 will fill thespace between the inner surface of the container adjacent the port 13and the adjacent portion of the inner end of the plug 13, therebyproviding a substantially continuous surface which the expanding bladder15 may contact during operation of the equipment.

In order to provide a liquid-tight seal between the neck 19 of plug 18and the wall surface of port 13, a resilient sealing ring 18a,preferably an O-ring, encompasses the neck 19 between hub 28 and thereduced diameter portion 28 of a collar 29' which encompasses the neck34. A nut 22 screwed on the externally threaded portion 22 of neck 34,when tightened, will securely retain the parts in assembledrelationship.

In assembling the accumulator, the bladder 15 is passed through the port13 of the empty container 12. The valve stem (not shown) secured to thebladder is pushed through an opening in the upper end of the container12 and secured thereto as by means of nut 14'. The plug 18 is thenpassed through the port 13 and the locking member 20 is deformed -bybeing folded in two as shown in FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 11, for example, suchfolding being permitted by reason of the fact that the rigid arcuatesegments 26, 26 are spaced from each other by the resilient material ofthe ring 35.

The deformed locking member 20 may readily be passed through the port 13into the container 12 as shown in FIG. 11.

The locking member 20 is then released and by reason of the resilienceof the folded resilient ring 35, will assume its original ring-likeshape so that it may readily be passed around the neck portion 19 of theplug 18. The plug 18 can then be drawn outwardly until its shoulder 19seats against the inner peripheries 33 of the locking segments 26, 26'and the bevelled surface 29 of the segments seat on the inner surface ofcontainer 12 about port 13. The sealing ring 1811 and collar 29 may then*be placed around the neck 34 and moved therealong until the ring 18a isagainst the hub 28. The nut 22 is then screwed on neck 19 and tightenedsecurely to retain the shoulder 19 of the plug against the innerperiphery 33 of the segments and the undersurface of the segmentsagainst the inner surface of the container 11 about port 13, the O-ring18a providing a dependable seal between the neck 19 and the wall of theport 13. The pressure accumulator later may then be used in conventionalmanner.

The construction of the locking member has been described with referenceto its incorporation into a pressure reservoir such as a pressureaccumulator as shown in FIGS. 1 to 11.

It is to be understood, however, that the locking member, according tothe invention, has broader application and may be used whenever it isdesired to connect one cylindrical member to another cylindrical memberwith one of the members having an opening therein through which theother member extends.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12 a locking member, according to theinvention, is utilized to connect two members 53, 51, the part 53 beinga cylindrical member such as a pipe, for example, having an annularflange 52 at its inner end which has an annular notch in itsundersurface defining an annular shoulder 57, and an annular seatingsurface 71 inwardly of the shoulder 57. The member 51 has a circularopening 50 therein through which the pipe 53 extends, the diameter ofopening 50 being greater than the diameter of the flange 52. As isclearly shown in FIG. 12, the portion of the member 51 encompassing theopening 50, defines an annular shoulder 55.

The locking member 20, shown in FIG. 12, comprises a resilient ring 35having an inwardly extending annular flange at its top surface with anupstanding bead 56 at,its inner periphery. The inner surface of theresilient ring 35 has two annular grooves 37a and 37b and an annularbead 54 depends from the undersurface of the inner periphery of theresilient ring 35.

A plurality of arcuate segments 26, illustratively two in number, areprovided, which, when juxtaposed, form a ring having an inner diameter72 just slightly greater than the outer diameter of the pipe 53 as isclearly shown in FIG. 12. Each of the segments 26 has a flat top wall 70and an arcuate recess in its undersurface defining a cylindrical hub 74adapted to fit into the opening 50 with but little clearance, said hubdefining an arcuate shoulder 73 outwardly thereof. Two spaced parallelarcuate flanges 32a and 32b extend laterally outward from the segments26 and are designed to be positioned in the recesses 37a and 371; as isclearly shown in FIG. 12.

In assembling the unit shown in FIG. 12, the pipe 53 is inserted throughthe opening 50 and then the locking member 20 is folded and insertedthrough such opening and positioned around the pipe 53 below the flange52. Thereupon, a washer 59 is positioned around the portion of pipe 53extending outwardly from opening 50; a coil spring is then interposedaround the pipe and a snap ring 60 is positioned in an arcuate groove60' in pipe 53, said snap ring 60 serving as a retainer for the coilspring which will be compressed between the washer 59 and the snap ring60, thereby tending to urge the pipe 53 outwardly.

As a result, the hub 74 will be moved into the opening 50 until shoulder73 abuts against shoulder 55 compressing bead 54. The surface 71 Willmove downwardly until it abuts against the top surface 75 of thesegments inwardly of the outer periphery of the flange 20', therebyproviding a dependable seal, the shoulder 57 comprising the bead 56.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 13 is similar to that shown in FIG. 12 withcertain minor variations.

In the embodiment of FIG. 13 the resilient lockin ring 35 issubstantially U-shaped and has a depending annular rim 35 at its innerperiphery, which rim has an outwardly extending annular bead 56' on itsouter surface, Which is designed to abut against the outer periphery 61of the flange 62 of the pipe 53 as is clearly shown in FIG. 13. Each ofthe rigid arcuate locking segments 26 has a flat shoulder '70 at itsinner periphery against which the bottom surface 71 of the flange 52 mayabut. An upstanding arcuate flange 37d is provided at the outerperiphery of each of the segments 26 and is designed to fit in the spacebetween the depending flange 35" and the opposed outer periphery of theresilient ring. The inner periphery of each of the arcuate segmets 26has an arcuate hub 74 depending therefrom which is designed to fitbetween theouter surface of the pipe 53 and the wall of opening 50. Thehub 74 defines a shoulder 73 which rests on the top surface of the innerperiphery of annular shoulder 55 and an additional shoulder 320 isprovided adjacent the undersurface and at the outer periphery of each ofthe segments, said shoulder 32c resting on the bottom leg 370 of thelocking ring, the latter having a depending head 54 which will becompressed against the shoulder 55. It is to be noted that the bottomleg 37c has an inwardly projecting flange 37c which fits into acorresponding groove in the segments 26.

As the assembly of the embodiment shown in FIG. 13 is readily apparentsince it is similar to the assembly of the embodiment shown in FIG. 12,it will not be described.

With the constructions above described, it is apparent that the rigidarcuate segments are not permanently bonded to the resilient ring, butare retained in the resilient ring frictionally. Thus, when the lockingmember is folded, the portion of the resilient ring adjacent the ends ofthe arcuate segments will be free to move, thereby reducing the stresswhich would be imparted to such resilient ring at such folding portionif the resilient ring was cemented or otherwise permanently bonded tothe rigid arcuate segments.

With such an arrangement, it is apparent that the re silient ring can bemade of harder material than would be needed if considerable extensionthereof was required to permit the folding. As a result, a moreeffective support will be provided for the bladder abutting against thering as in the case of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 12 and a widerrange of materials can be used in the fabrication thereof.

With the construction of the deformable locking member shown in theembodiments of FIGS. 1 to 11, as the entire upper surface thereofcontacted by the inflated bladder 15 on expansion thereof is anuninterrupted resilient surface defined by the resilient ring 35 and asno discontinuity is provided in the discharge end of the accumulatorradially outwardly of the plug 18, there will be no spaces ordiscontinuities through which the expanded bladder 15 may protrude.Consequently, failure of the bladder due to pinching or cutting isavoided.

In disassembling a pressure vessel or accumulator of the type shown inFIGS. 1 to 11, utilizing the locking member of the type described, it isnecessary first to push the plug 18 inwardly after the nut 22 has beenremoved so that the locking member may be slipped off the neck 19' ofthe plug and deformed for removal through port 13. If there is any airpressure in the bladder 15, the latter will press against such plug 18and prevent displacement thereof. It is apparent therefore, that indisassembly of the accumulator, a mechanic cannot neglect first torelease all of the air pressure remaining in the bladder andconsequently there is no danger of injury as a result of the plug beingblown out of the container.

As many changes could be made in the above constructions, and manyapparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be madewithout departing from the scope of the claims, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A foldable locking member comprising a ring of resilient materialhaving a recess in its inner wall surface and a plurality of rigidarcuate segments having conformations on their outer peripheries adaptedto coact with the recess to releasably yet securely retain the arcuatesegments in the ring with their adjacent ends in juxtaposition, theinner peripheries of said arcuate segments extending laterally inwardbeyond the inner periphery of said resilient ring to define an abutmentshoulder.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which said Tesilient ring hasa pair of diametrically spaced fins ex- :ending inwardly from the innerperiphery thereof and adapted to be positioned between the adjacent endsof the arcuate segments.

3. A foldable locking member comprising a ring of resilient materialhaving an annular groove therein substantially L-shaped in crosssection, one of the legs of the groove extending substantially parallelto the top surface of the ring and the other leg extending away fromsuch top surface at substantially right angles thereto toward the bottomsurface of the ring, the end of such last-named leg remote from the topsurface defining an opening and a plurality of rigid arcuate segmentsassocited wth said ring, each of said segments having a substantiallyflat top surface and having a substantially L- shaped rim rising fromnear the outer periphery of such top surface, said L-shaped rim havingone leg extending at right angles to such top surface and another legextending parallel to such top surface, the legs of said rim beingcomplementary to the L-shaped groove in said ring and adapted to fitsnugly therein, the inner periphery of said flat surface of said arcuatesegments extending inwardly of said resilient ring when the segments arepositioned therein.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 in which the outer periphery ofsaid resilient ring is bevelled inwardly from the top surface thereofand each of the arcuate segments has a correspondingly bevelled portionon its outer periphery.

5. The combination set forth in claim 3 in which each of the arcuatesegments has a depending arcuate hub on its undersurface adjacent itsinner periphery.

6. A deformable locking member for connecting two parts comprising aring of resilient material having an annular recess in the innerperiphery thereof coaxial with the ring, a plurality of rigid arcuatesegments adapted to be positioned in said recess with the outerperiphery of said arcuate segments positioned in said recess and theinner periphery extending laterally inwardly" from said ring anddefining an abutment shoulder, said recess and the outer periphery ofsaid rigid arcuate segments having completmentary conformations tosecurely yet releasably retain the segments in said ring, said segmentshaving their adjacent ends in juxtaposition.

7. The combination set forth in claim 6 in which said recess comprises aplurality of spaced parallel annular grooves and the outer periphery ofeach arcuate segment has arcuate projections adapted to fit into saidannular grooves. I

S. The combination set forth in claim 6 in which said recess has aplurality of spaced parallel annular grooves and the outer periphery ofeach arcuate segment has outwardly extending arcuate projections adaptedreleasably yet securely to fit in said annular grooves, the top surfaceof said resilient ring resting on the top surface of the rigid arcuatesegments and terminating short of the inner peripheries thereof todefine said abutment shoulder, the top and bottom surfaces of saidresilient ring at the periphery thereof having beads extending outwardlyat right angles thereto parallel to the axis of the locking member.

9. In a pressure vessel of the type having a port, a deformablepartition secured in said pressure vessel and adapted to move towardsaid port and a cylindrical member in said port having a laterallyoutward extending annular flange at its inner end of outer diameter lessthan that of said port and defining a shoulder, the combinationtherewith of a deformable locking member for said cylindrical memberpositioned between said shoulder and the inner surface of said pressurevessel encompassing said port, said deformable locking member comprisinga ring of resilient material having a recess in the inner peripherythereof, a plurality of rigid arcuate segments having their outerperipheries positioned in said recess, said re- .cess in said innerperiphery and said rigid arcuate segments having complementaryconformations to releasably yet securely retain the segments in saidresilient ring, the upper surface of said resilient ring terminatingshort of the inner periphery of said arcuate segments to define anabutment shoulder, said segments defining a ring member of innerdiameter slightly greater than the diameter of said tubular member sothat the latter may fit therein with said flange shoulder seated on saidabutment shoulder, said arcuate segments having arcuate notches on theirundersurface adjacent their inner peripheries defining an arcuate hub ofwidth but slightly less than the distance between the tubular member andthe wall of said port, said notches defining arcuate shoulders adaptedto seat on the periphcry of the port, and resilient means normallyurging said tubular member outwardly, whereby said flange shoulder ofsaid tubular member will seat on the abutment shoulder of said lockingsegments and the shoulder defined by the recess in said locking segmentswill seat on the periphery of said port adjacent said opening.

10. The combination set forth in claim 9 in which the upper and lowersurfaces of said resilient ring adjacent the inner periphery thereofhave upstanding beads, said beads being compressed when said tubularmember. is moved outwardly by said resilient means.

11. The combination set forth in claim 9 in which a washer encompassessaid tubular member and has its outer periphery extending beneath saidsecond member outwardly of the periphery of the opening therein, aretaining member is secured to said tubular member and said resilientmeans comprises a coil spring compressed between said washer and saidretaining member.

12. A deformable locking member comprising a ring of resilient materialhaving a recess in its inner periphery, a plurality of rigid arcuatesegments having their outer peripheries positioned in said recess, saidrecess and said outer peripheries of said rigid arcuate segments havingcomplementary conformations to releasably retain said arcuate segmentsin said resilient ring, said rigid arcuate segments having their innerperipheries extending laterally inward of the inner periphery of saidresilient ring and defining abutment shoulders, the root ends of saidabutment shoulders having an upstanding wall, and the inner periphery ofsaid rings having a depending rim adapted to be positioned against saidupstanding wall.

13. The combination set forth in claim 12 in which each of said rigidarcuate segments has an upstanding arcuate flange at the top surface ofits outer periphery, the inner surface of each of said flanges definingsaid upstanding wall, each of said arcuate segments having a dependingarcuate flange at the inner periphery of its undersurface, said flangesdefining arcuate hubs.

14. An assembly comprising a tubular member having an annular flange atone end, a second member having an opening therein of diameter greaterthan the diameter of said flange, said opening defining an annularshoulder, a deformable locking member interposed between said flange andsaid annular shoulder, said deformable locking member comprising aresilient ring having a recess in the inner periphery thereof, aplurality of rigid arcuate segments having their inner peripheriespositioned in said recess, said inner peripheries and said recess havingcomplementary conformations to releasably yet securely retain said ringand said segments together, the top wall of said ring having a dependingrim at the inner periphery thereof and said rigid arcuate segments eachhaving an upstanding arcuate flange at the outer periphery thereof, theinner surface of said depending rim being adapted to rest against theinner surface of said arcuate flanges, a portion of each of said arcuatemembers extending inwardly of said ring rim and defining an abutmentsurface against which the flange of said tubular member may abut, theundersurface of said rigid arcuate segments adjacent the innerperipheries thereof having depending flanges defining hubs adapted to bepositioned between the wall of said opening and the adjacent surface ofsaid tubular member, said hubs defining arcuate shoulders outwardlythereof adapted to rest on the periphery of said opening in said secondmember, the bottom surface of said resilient ring being adapted to restagainst the shoulder adjacent said opening, the inner periphery of saidring adja cent its undersurface having an inwardly extending annularflange, said arcuate members having arcnate recesses adapted to receivesaid flange, the outer surface of the rim at the upper surface of saidring and the undersurface of said ring adjacent its inner peripheryhaving outwardly extending beads adapted to engage the side wall of saidflange and said shoulder respectively, and means to urge said tubularmember outwardly from said openmg.

15. The combination set forth in claim 14 in which the means to urgesaid tubular member outwardly comprises References Cited by the ExaminerUNITED STATES PATENTS Sheets 277--181 Greer 277-235 X Helfrecht et a1.277179 Brummer et a1. 277-179 Liebig 277-235 15 LAVERNE D. GEIGER,Primary Examiner. T. L. MOORHEAD, Assistant Examiner.

9. IN A PRESSURE VESSEL OF THE TYPE HAVING A PORT, A DEFORMABLEPARTITION SECURED IN SAID PRESSURE VESSEL AND ADAPTED TO MOVE TOWARDSAID PORT AND A CYLINDRICAL MEMBER IN SAID PORT HAVING A LATERALLYOUTWARD EXTENDING ANNULAR FLANGE AT ITS INNER END OF OUTER DIAMETER LESSTHAN THAT OF SAID PORT AND DEFINING A SHOULDER, THE COMBINATIONTHEREWITH OF A DEFORMABLE LOCKING MEMBER FOR SAID CYLINDRICAL MEMBERPOSITIONED BETWEEN SAID SHOULDER AND THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID PRESSUREVESSEL ENCOMPASSING SAID PORT, SAID DEFORMABLE LOCKING MEMBER COMPRISINGA RING OF RESILIENT MATERIAL HAVING A RECESS IN THE INNER PERIPHERYTHEREOF, A PLURALITY OF RIGID ARCUATE SEGMENTS HAVING THEIR OUTERPERIPHERIES POSITIONED IN SAID RECESS, SAID RECESS IN SAID INNERPERIPHERY AND SAID RIGID ARCUATE SEGMENTS HAVING COMPLEMENTARYCONFORMATIONS TO RELEASABLY YET SECURELY RETAIN THE SEGMENTS IN SAIDRESILIENT RING, THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID RESILIENT RING TERMINATINGSHORT OF THE INNER PERIPHERY OF SAID ARCUATE SEGMENTS TO DEFINE ANABUTMENT SHOULDER, SAID SEGMENTS DEFINING A RING MEMBER OF INNERDIAMETER SLIGHTLY GREATER THAN THE DIAMETER OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER SOTHAT THE LATTER MAY FIT THEREIN WITH SAID FLANGE SHOULDER SEATED ON SAIDABUTMENT SHOULDER, SAID ARCUATE SEGMENTS HAVING ARCUATE NOTCHES ON THEIRUNDERSURFACE ADJACENT THEIR INNER PERIPHERIES DEFINING AN ARCUATE HUB OFWIDTH BUT SLIGHTLY LESS THAN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE TUBULAR MEMBER ANDTHE WALL OF SAID PORT, SAID NOTCHES DEFINING ARCUATE SHOULDERS ADAPTEDTO SEAT ON THE PERIPHERY OF THE PORT, AND RESILIENT MEANS NORMALLYURGING SAID TUBULAR MEMBER OUTWARDLY, WHEREBY SAID FLANGE SHOULDER OFSAID TUBULAR MEMBER WILL SEAT ONTHE ABUTMENT SHOULDER OF SAID LOCKINGSEGMENTS AND THE SHOULDER DEFINED BY THE RECESS IN SAID LOCKING SEGMENTSWILL SEAT ON THE PERIPHERY OF SAID PORT ADJACENT SAID OPENING.